Fluid control means



Dec. 16, 1941.

E. c. BRISBANE ErAL FLUID CONTROL MEANS 2 Shets-Sheet l Filed March 2, 1959 ZO. P WOL Dec.16,1941. E. C. RISBANE Em l 2,266,533

FLUID CONTROL MEANS Filed March 2, 1959 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

` PRESSURE ING CLOSING '76 85I 58 57 l EssuRE 39 DRM IN 2,4 383524 2l 23 V 3T 35 22 gpnsssuRE' 33 y 5 57 32 4%/ 67 J 2T 29 1/ 7 3o 25 28 3| 4-9 39 `ffl-O 4| 42 To SEWER y Snventors EUGENE C. BRISBANE AND `FRANK E. AFEACOCK Bu Gttomeg Patented Dec. 16, 1941 PATENT oFFlcE i 2,288,533 i FLUID CONTROL MEANS Eugene C.

Brisbane and Frank E. PeacocLYork,

Pa., aadgnors to S. Morgan Smith Company, York, Pa., a' corporation oi Pennsylvania Application March 2. i939, Serial No. 259,318

.9Clalms.

This invention relates to fluid control means.

In some installationailuid under pressure is delivered to a pipe line by a pump. a blower, or by gravity from a reservoir or the like. Control valves, usually of the automatically operated type, are installed inthe pipe line for the purpose of controlling the flow of uid therethrough. These control valves may function as check valves for cutting oil' communication through the pipe line when the pressure of the fluid decreases a predetermined amount. such for instance, as failure of the pump or the blower to properly function.` Also, the control valves may be adapted to cut of! communication through the pipeline when the flow exceeds a predetermined normal flow desired.

An object oi the invention is to provide an improved iluld controlling means for pipe lines and the like, in which the pipe line has installed therein a valve adapted to control communication through the pipe line in such a manner that when the flow exceeds a predetermined amount the valve will be automatically closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid controlling means embodying an automatically operable valve, in which manually operable means are included in the valve control mechanism for controlling the opening of the valve after the valve has closed due to an excess how of iiuid in the pipe line.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view. the invention consists in the preferred construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be hereinafter fully de scribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of a fluid control apparatus embodying the invention; A

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are diagrammatic sections of the manually operable valve shown in Fig. l, showing the three positions thereof;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the valve control mechanism in valve open position: and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal lsection of the control valve shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, .the main pipe line consists oi' sections Il and i2, connected to the opposite ends of a valve |13.

Pipe Il may lead from a suitable source of supply,and.=the fluid in the pipe line is normally maintained `ai; a predetermined pressure by means of a pump (not shown).

(ci. rs1-153) The valve i3 has a rotatable plug Il with a waterway i5 formed therein.

The plug I4 is adapted to be rotated by suitable mechanism so as to control communication through the pipe line.

In the present instancethe plug operating mechanism is shown as comprising a sector i6 which is ilxed to one end of the stem of the valve plug Il and has teeth in meshing relationshipwith the teeth of a rack bar Il.

' One end 'of the rack bar Il is connected to the end of a rod Il oi a piston I9 mounted ina cylinder 20.

Reciprocation of the piston I9 within the cyl'- inder 291s adapted to turn the plug I4 through an angle of approximately 90 so as to position the waterway i5 of the plug Il, whereby the flow of fluid through the pipe line is either cut oi or permitted.

For the purpose of controlling the operation of the piston i9, a suitable control valve device 2| is employed.

T'he control valve 2l in turn is under the control of a pilot valve device 22 operatively connected to the pipe line in the manner to be hereinafter described.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the control valve device 2i comprises a casing formed with a bore 23 consisting of two concentric cylindrical portions of different diameters, in which is mounted a plunger 24 formed with spaced apart heads 25, 26, 21 and 29.

The movement of the plunger 24 in one direction is limited by an adjustable stop 29 which is adapted to engage the end of the plunger having the head 25, and the movement of the plunger in the opposite direction is limited by an adjustable stop 30 (Fig. 6) which is adapted to engage an extension 3l on the end ofthe plunger 24 havingthe. head 28..

The portion of. the bore 23 in which the plunger head 25 is disposed is of less diameter than the diameter of the remainder of said bore.

'Ihe plunger heads divide the bore 23 into a plurality of chambers 22, 33, 34, 35 and 36.

Chamber 34 is connected to a source of fluid under pressure by a port and passage 31 and a pipe Il.

The.chambers 33 and l5 are connected to a free discharge or sewer, by ports 39 and 40.

- respectively, passage 4i connecting said ports,

and a pipe I2, (Fig. 6).

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, when the plunger 24 is in a` certain position, chamber ll is connected to piston chamber by a port M and pipe 45l and chamber 35 is connected to the other piston chamber 46, by a port 41 and pipe 46.

The ports 39 and 49 are termed drain ports. Port 44 is termed the valve opening port. Port 41 is termed the valve closing port.

Fluid under pressure is adapted to be supplied by pipe 38 and passage and port 31 to chamber 34 so that said chamber is always supplied with iluid under pressure. Port 31 is, therefore, termed the pressure port.

Chamber 32 is also adapted to be supplied with fluid under pressure at all times by passage and port 49. l

When the valve I3 is in open position the plunger 24 is in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which position port 44 is connected to port 31 through chamber 34 so that fluid under pressure will be supplied to the piston chamber 43 through pipe 45. Chamber 46 on the opposite side of the piston I9 is connected to the sewer 42 through pipe 48, port 41, chamber 35, port 46 and passage 4|.

The pilot valve device 22 comprises a casing formed with a bore 56, in which is slidably mounted a valve element 51 having two spaced heads 58 and 59.

Chamber 60 in the bore 56 between the valve heads 58 and 59 is connected to the control valve chamber 36 heretofore referred to by a port and passage 6|.

The chamber 66 is also connected to a source of Supply of fluid under pressure by a port 62 and pipe 63.

The bore 56, above the chamber 60, is connected to the drain port 40, by a passage and port 64. When the pilot valve device 22 is in the position shown in Fig. 5, head 58 laps port 64, thereby cutting oi communication through the port and passage 64.

Leading into the bore 56, below the chamber 60, are two ports 65 and 66.

A pipe 61 is connected to port 65, and the port 66 connects the bore 56 with the control valve drain port 40. When the pilot valve device 22 is in the position shown in Fig. 5, head 59 laps the ports 65 and 66.

In the present instance the pilot valve element 51 is shown operatively connected to a iiuid pressure operated device, such a diaphragm device 1|.

The diaphragm device 1i has a diaphragm 12 mounted in a suitable casing between two chambers 13 and 14.

Chamber 13 is connected to a suitable source of iiuid under pressure by means of a pipe 15, and chamber 14 is connected to a suitable source of iiuid under pressure by means of a pipe 16.

Communication through pipe 15 may be controlled by means of a valve 11, and between said valve and the diaphragm device 1I, a strainer device 18 may be installed in the pipe 15.

Communication through pipe 16 may be controlled by a valve 19.

The movement of the diaphragm 12 is limited by stops 66 and 6i formed in the casing of the diaphragm device on opposite sides o! said diaphragm.

The end of the pilot valve element 51 opposite to the end having the head 59 extends through an opening 32 formed in the diaphragm 12. This portion of the element 51 is formed with screw threads 83 for the reception of nuts 64 and 65 disposed on opposite sides of the diaphragm 12 and adapted to permit adjustment of the pilot aacasss 12, so that the heads 56 and 56 can be properly positioned within the bore 66 when the parts are being assembled.

Disposed in the diaphragm chamber 14 and encircling the valve element 61 and bearing against one side of the diaphragm 12, is an expansible coil spring 66.

Disposed in the diaphragm chamber 13 and bearing against the side of the diaphragm 12 opposite to the side facing of the spring 66, is

an expansible coil spring 61, means, such as indicated at 88, Fig. 5, being provided for adjusting the tension of said spring 61.

'I'he tension of the spring 61 is considerably greater than the tension of the spring 86, the latter spring being employed merely to provide means for resilientlv supporting the diaphragm when the diaphragm is in the down position shown in Fig. 5 and to assist in urging the diaphragm upwardly from such down position when iluid under pressure is supplied to the chamber 14 during operation of the device, as will be hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. l, pipe 61 may be connected to pipe 15, and for the purpose of controlling communication through pipe 61, a. three-way valve device 9| is installed in said pipe at any convenient place between the pilot valve device 22 and the junction of the pipe 61 with the pipe 15.

The valve 9| has a plug 92 adapted to be turned to the threepositions shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, by means of a handle 93. The plug 92 is form-ed with a through waterway 94 and a branch waterway leading from the.through waterway 94 and adapted to establish communication from pipe 61 to a pipe 96 for the purpose to be hereinafter described. The pipe 36 leads to a free discharge or sewer.

The main pipe line is formed with a contracted throat IIII, the valve I3 being located on the downstream side of said throat.

Pipe 15 is connected to the throat IIII by a piezometer connection |62.

The pipe 16 is connected to the upstream side or inlet I 63 of the throat III by a piezometer connection |64.

It is well known in the art that when it is desired to measure the rate of flow of uid in a pipe line or other conduit, an orice plate, Venturi tube,` or other obstruction is inserted in the pipe line, thereby setting up one pressure on one side and another pressure on the other side. The invention does not contemplate the measurement of the rate of ilow, but it does make use of the pressure dierential set up by the measuring device, such as the Venturi tube shown in Fig. 1. This is connected in the pipe line so that the Ilow in the direction of the arrow rst reaches the inlet |63 andthenpassesthroughthe throat III.

It is in the throat I6! that pressure gives way to velocity. Assuming a fluid ilow at a uniform rate, the velocity in the throat Ill will exceed the pipe line velocity at the point at the left of the Venturi tube indicated by the numeral Il, but the pressure head in the inlet |63 will exceed thepressurehead in the throat I6I. Thispressure di'erentlal is utilized as the force for controlling the closing and opening of the valve I3.

At normal ow of iluid in the main pipe line, the low pressure on the opening side of the diaphragm in chamber 13, plus the pressure of the spring 31, is sumcient to hold the diaphragm in valve element 51 with respect to the diaphragm the openposition, shown in rig. 5, against the high pressure of the uid onfthe closing side of the diaphragm in chamber 14.

At a certain predetermined flow oi' the fluid in the main pipe line above normal, the high pressure on the closing side of the diaphragm (chamber 14) overcomes the low pressure plus the spring load on the opening side of the diaphragm (chamber 13) and the diaphragm is moved upwardly.

When the diaphragm 12 is in the valve open position shown inV Fig. 5, the pilot valve head 66 laps port 64, and the pilot valve head 53 laps ports 65 and 66.

Ports 6I and 62 are uncovered, thereby permitting fluid under pressure supplied by pipe 63, to flow from the pilot valve chamber 66 to the control valve chamber 36, and the control valve plunger 24 is positioned as-shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In this position of the plunger 24, piston chamber 46`is connected to the sewer or free discharge by pipe 48, port 41, chamber 36, port 40, passage 4I, and pipe 42, and fluid under pressure is supplied to piston chamber 43, from the control valve pressure chamber 34, through port 44, and pipe 45.

In this Way the piston I3 is positioned in cylinder ,20 so that the valve plug I4 is inthe open position shown in Fig. 1. v

Under such operating conditions as above described, the plug of the. valve 9| is disposed in the position shown in Fig. 3, in which position communication is maintained throughpipe 61 from the pilot valve device 22 to the pipe 15.v However, as shown in Fig. 5, pilot valve head 59 laps the port 65 so that the end of the. branch pipe line provided by pipe 61 is closed when the valve I3 is in open position.

When the flow of the fluid in the main pipe line II increases a predetermined amount above the normal flow in the pipe line, the`high pressure of fluid transmitted to diaphragm chamber 14 from the piezometer |64 through pipe 16 overcomes the low pressure plus the load of the spring 61 in chamber 13 and the diaphragm 12 is moved upwardly away from the stop 3 I In the upward movement of the diaphragm 12, the pilot valve element 56 is also moved upwardly, so that port 62 is lapped and ports 64 and 65 uncovered.

With port 62 closed, fluid under pressure from pipe 63 is cut oi from the control valve chamber 36, and with port 66 uncovered uid under pressure in the low pressure pipe line 15 is vented to the sewer, through port and passage 66, vport 40, passage 4I and pipe 42.

Chamber 36 is also connected to the sewer through port 6I, chamber 66, port and passage 64, port 40, passage 4I, and pipe 42, so that the pressure which has maintained the control valve plurger 24 in valve open position is vented.

The pressure of the fluid in chamber 32 acting upon the plunger head 26 then shifts the plunger from the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, towards the right. In this way the heads 26 and 21 are moved to the position in which port 44 is cut oi from the fluid supply chamber 34 and connected to the free discharge or sewer pipe 42, thereby venting piston chamber 43. At the same time, piston chamber 46 is connected to the fluid supply chamber 34, through port 41 and pipe 48, so that they piston I3 is actuated to operate the valve plug mechanism and effect rotation of the plug I4 towards closed position.

When the port 65 is uncovered, the low pressure or opening side of the diaphragm (chamber 13) is connected to the sewer, as has been heretofore described, thus bleeding the pres.

surefrom the diaphragm chamber 13 and caus-A ing the diaphragm to remain in the valve closed "position against the stops 60. With the diaphragm so positioned, thevalve I3 will remain in its closed position.

After the cause of the excess flow in the main pipe line has been determined, and the cause remedied, before the valve I3 can be opened, it is necessary to manually operate the three-way valve 9| vby turning the plug 92 from the position shown in Fig. 3, to the position shown in Fig. 4, which latter position is termed the restoring position. In this way the pressure of the fluid supplied to diaphragm chamber 13 through pipe 15, is permitted to build up again, since the venting of fluid under pressure through pipe 61, port 65, port and passage66, port 40, passage 4I, and pipe 42, is cut off.

When the valve I3 is closed, there will not be any flow of fluid through the pipe line II, and consequently after the valve 9i has been operated-in the above describedmanner,v the pressure of the uid supplied to both diaphragm chambers 13 and 14 becomes equal. Under the force exerted b'y the spring 61, the diaphragm will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby effecting operation of the pilot valve 22, the control valve device 2|, and the plug operating mechanism, so that the plug I4 is turned from f from the position shown in Fig. 4to the position shown in Fig. 3, so vthat the parts are again positioned for normalv flow of fluid through the main pipe line II.

When it is desired to test the action of the diaphragm 1,2, pilot valve devicev 22, and the control valve device 2|, the three-way valve 9I is operated to turn the plug 92 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2. In the latter position uid under pressure in pipe line 15 will be vented tothe sewer pipe 96, thus bleeding the pressure from the opening side (chamber 13) of the diaphragm device. The diaphragm 12 thus moves upwardly under the force exerted by the pressure of the fluid in the diaphragm chamber 14, thereby causing the mechanism to `operate to close the valve plug I4 in the manner heretofore described.

After the test has been made, the plug 92 of the valve INl should be turned to the restoring position (see Fig. 4), whereupon the pressure of the fluid supplied to diaphragm chamber 13 through pipe 15, is built up again, thereby restoring the diaphragm and its associated parts to their normal positions.

The purpose of the valve 11 is to control com.- munication through the pipe 15. When the ap#l paratus hasbeen assembled and the parts are being tested, the valve 11 is adjusted so that when the diaphragm device 1I functions to effect closing of the valve I3 no more fluid will be passed through the pipe 15 from the throat IIlI than the waste ports 65 and 66 can carry off. In this way an increase in the pressure in diaphragm chamber 13 sufficient to overcome the pressure in the diaphragm chamber 14 is prevented. The diaphragm device 1I will be less sensitive to variations in flow conditions which result in causing false operations when small, instantaneous surges, such as water hammer conditions and the like occur in the main pipe line II.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a system for controlling the ilow of a fluid the combination with a pipe line having a constricted throat, ot a main valve for controlling the flow located at the throat, fluid pressure operated mechanism for the main valve, a control valve for controlling the operation of said valve mechanism, fluid pressure operated means for operating said control valve, a pilot valve device for controlling the operation of said control valve operating means, iiuid pressure operated means for operating the pilot valve and having opposed chambers and a diaphragm therebetween, one chamber being connected to the throat on the upstream side of the mainvalve and the other chamber being connected to the inlet of the throat to thereby provide a pressure differential on opposite sides of the diaphragm and a spring acting against the high pressure from the inlet to unbalance the diaphragm and thereby effect operation of the mechanism to retain the main valve in open position under predetermined ow of fluid through the pipe line, a pipe connecting the pilot valve with the pipe connecting the throat and the rst diaphragm chamber, whereby low pressure iluid is supplied to the pilot valve for distribution to the control valve when the pilot valve is operated from valve open position to valve closed position, said second diaphragm chamber being adapted to be supplied with suiiicient fluid from the inlet to move the diaphragm away from valve open position upon a predetermined increase in flow of iluid in the pipe line, means for connecting the first diaphragm chamber with a sewer when the diaphragm is actuated by an excess of iluid pressure in the pipe line to thereby bleed the pressure from the diaphragm chamber and cause the diaphragm to remain in valve closed position, and a manually operated normally open valve in the pilot valve connecting pipe adapted to be closed to cut oi the communication of the flrst diaphragmv chamber with the sewer to thereby permit fluid from the throat to build up again in the rst diaphragm chamber and thereby restore the pilot valve operating means to an operative condition.

2. A fluid control system comprising a pipe line, a main valve for controlling communication through the pipe line, iiuid pressure operated mechanism for operating said valve, a control valve for said mechanism, fluid pressure means.

for operating said control valve, pilot valve for controlling said control valve operating means, uid pressure means operable upon normal ilow of fluid in the pipe line to retain the pilot valve in position whereby the control valve is held by its operating means in main valve open position, means connecting said pilot valve fluid pressure means with the pipe line whereby upon an increase in flow in the pipe line the pilot valve is actuated to eiiect closing of the main valve, means for connecting said pilot valve actuating means with a sewer when the main valve is in closed position for rendering said pilot valve operating means inoperative, and means for disconnecting said pilot valve operating means from the sewer and for connecting the same with a source of fluid under pressure to thereby restore the pilot valve operating means to an operative condition.

3. In a system for controlling the flow of a fluid the combination with a pipe line having a onstricted throat, of a main valve located at the throat for controlling the now, iluid pressure operated mechanism for operating said valve, a uid pressure operated control valve for said mechanism, a pilot valve for controlling the operating pressure oi' said control valve, operating means for said pilot valve connected to points of diilerent size in said pipe line and operated by variations in the differences of pressure caused by variations in ow therein, means controlled by said pilot valve when the pilot valve is operated upon a predetermined increase in the ow oi fluid in the pipe line for exhausting the pressure from one of said connections to render the pilot valve operating means inoperative, and a valve for controlling the flow ot uuid through said exhausting means.

4. In a system for controlling the ow of iluid the combination with a pipe line having a constricted throat, of a main valve located at the throat for controlling the ow, iluid pressure op erated mechanism for operating said valve, a fluid pressure operated control valve tor said mechanism, a pilot valve for controlling the operating pressure of said control valve, iluid pressure mechanism operatively connected with the pipe line and responsive to variations in pipe line pressure for operating said pilot valve, said pilot valve being disposed in position to maintain the main'valve in open position under predetermined normal ilow of iluid in the pipe line and being operable by its operating mechanism when the iiow in the pipe line exceeds a predetermined amount to effect closing oi the main valve, uid connections controlled by the pilot valve and retained closed thereby when the main valve is in open position` and opened by the pilot valve when the main valve is in closed position for exhausting uid pressure from vthe pilot valve operating mechanism to render the same inoperative when the main valve is closed, and a valve for controlling said exhausting means and operable to restore fluid pressure to the pilot valve operating means.

5. A fluid control system comprising a pipe line, a main valve for controlling communication through the pipe line, fluid pressure operated opposite sides of said diaphragm, said diaphragm being adapted under normal flow of fluid in the pipe line to retain the pilot valve in position to hold the control valve in main valve open position, said diaphragm being operable upon an increase in flow in the pipe line to actuate the pilot valve to eiect operation of said control valve to effect closing of the main valve, means for connecting one of the diaphragm chambers with a sewer when the main valve is in closed position for rendering said diaphragm inoperative, and means for disconnecting said diaphragm chamber from the sewer and for connecting the same with a source of fluid under pressure to thereby restore the diaphragm to an operative condition.

6. The combination with a pipe line having a check valve therein and fluid pressure operated mechanism for said valve, of' a iluid pressure operated control valve for said mechanism, a pilot valve for controlling the operating pressure of said control valve, uid pressure responsive means operatively connected with Athe pipe line and responsive to variations in pipe line pressure for operating said pilot valve, said pilot valve being positioned by its operating means to effect operation of the control valve so as to maintain the check valve open under predetermined normal flow of iluid in the pipe line, said pilot valve being operable by its operating means when the iiow in the pipe line exceeds a predetermined amount to effect operation of the control valve so as to effect closing of the check valve, a uid connection controlled by the pilot valve and normally closed when the check valve is open and opened by the pilot valve when the check valve is in closed position for exhausting uid pressure from vthe pilot valve operating means to render the same inoperative when the check valve is closed, and an independent means' for controlling said exhausting connection and operable to restore iiuid pressure to the pilot valve operating means.

7. In a valve control system, the combination with a valve having a port connected witha sewer, a pilot valve for controlling communication to said port, fluid pressure operated means for operating said pilot valve, means for supplying operating fluid to said fluid pressure operated means, said fluid pressure operated means being pressure operating means.y through said port to.

the sewer when the pilot valve is open to thereby rendersaid fluid pressure means inoperative.

'8. In a valve control system, thecombination with a valve having a port connected with a sewer, oi' a pilot valve for controlling communication to said port, nuid pressure operated means for operating said pilot valve, means for supplying operating uid to said uid pressure operated means, said uid pressure operated means beingl operable under a predetermined condition to retain the pilot valve in position to close the communication to said port, said uid pressure operated means being operable under a condition other than the predetermined condition to move the pilot valve to a position in which communication through the port is open, a connection between the fluid pressure operating means and said pilot valve for connecting the uid pressure operating means through said port to the sewer when the pilot valve is open to thereby render said uid pressure means inoperative, and means for controlling communication 'through said connecting means so that the open communication of the fluid pressure means with the sewer can be controlled independently of the pilot valve and thereby restore the iiuid pressure means to an operative condition.

9. In a iluid control means, the combination with a valve having a port connected with a sewer, a pilot `valve for controlling communication to said port, iiuid pressure operated means for operating the pilot valve, said iiuid pressure operated means having opposed chambers and a diaphragm therebetween, said diaphragm being connected to said pilot valve,- means for supplying. fluid pressure to the chambers on the opposite sides of the diaphragm, said diaphragm being operable under a predetermined condition when an excess of iiuid pressure 'is supplied to one chamber and the diaphragm is unbalanced to move in the direction in which the pilot valve closes the communication to said port, said diaphragm being operable under a condition other than the predetermined condition when the diaphragm is unbalanced in the opposite direction so that the pilot valve is moved to open communication to said port, a connection between the iirst diaphragm chamber and the pilot valve for venting operating fluid 'from saidiirst chamber through said portand to the sewer when the port is open by said pilot valve, thereby rendering said diaphragm inoperative, and means for controlling communication through said connecting means so that the open communication o f the diaphragm chamber with the sewer can be controlled independently oi! the pilot valve to restore the diaphragm to an operative condition.

EUGENE C. BRISBANE. FRANK E. PEACOCK. 

